Lighting system



Oct. 3, 1944. J. w. LAWSON 2,359,371

LIGHTING SYSTEM Filed March 31 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet l 5/X TLRM/NAL CONNECTOR PLUG FOUR URN/NM CONNECTOR PLUG so zo za 2o 10/572 W15 WSUH Oct. 3, 1944. J. w. LAWSON LIGHTING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 Filed March 31, 1945 51X TfRM/NA L C ONNE C TOR PLUG UUQQU BO- MK {:IQ QUE] B0 on BUB. 511w LT QED. 9 HEAD LTS FOUR TERM/NA L CONNECTOR PLUG HEAD LTS INVENTOR 50/927 Wla wsmz ATTORNEYW Oct. 3, 1944. J. w. LAWSON 2,359,371

LIGHTING SYSTEM Filed March 31, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Patented Oct. 3, 1944 LIGHTING SYSTEM John W. Lawson, Anderson, Ind., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Delaware Application March 31, 1943, Serial No. 481,233

3 Claims.

This invention relates to lighting systems for use on automotive Vehicles particularly the military type.

There are already in military service engine driven vehicles used with trailers equipped with multi-circuit plug-and-socket connector for making electrical connections between circuits of the engine vehicle and circuits of the trailer. Some of these connectors provide for six electrical connections and others for four electrical connections. It is an object of the present invention to provide lighting systems for use with either a six circuit connector or four-circuit connector, said systems using main circuit controlling switches which are identical. This main circuit controlling switch is of simple and compact construction having an off position and four on positions for controlling the various lamp filaments for four conditions of driving and parking, namely, black-out parking, black-out driving, day-light driving with only the stoplight burning when the brakes are applied, and night driving with the regular or service head and tail lamps burning.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, referenc being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a wiring diagram of a lighting system for six terminal connector plug use including a main control lighting switch constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a wiring diagram of a lighting system for four terminal connector plug use using the same switch as for six terminal connector plug.

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 show the various on positions of the switch shown in the ofi position in both Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 7 is a chart showing the circuits which are made by the switch when used in the six terminal connector plug of Fig. 1 and when the switch is in the various positions shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Fig. 8 is a chart showing the various circuits which are made by the switch when used in the four terminal connector plug Fig. 2 and when the switch is in the various on positions shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the switch shown diagrammatically in preceding figures.

Figs. 10 and 11 are respectively front and back views of the switch looking respectively in the direction of arrows I0 and II of Fig. 9.

Figs. 12, 13, 14 and 15 are sectional views taken respectively on the line I2-I2, I3--I3, I4-I4 and I5I 5 of Fig. 9.

The electric lamp system for use in the six terminal connector plug comprises service driving lamps 20 having main filaments 2I and depressed beam filaments 22 connected respectively with dimmer switch contacts or terminals 23 and 24 adapted to be connected by a contact 25 selectively with terminal 26 connected by wire 21 with fixed contact I06 of main control switch 90. There is a blackout driving lamp 30 having a filament 3| connected by wire 32 with contact IOI of switch 90. There are two blackout marker lamps 33 having filaments 34 connected by wire 35 with contact I02 of switch 90. There is a prime mover vehicle rear lamp 40 having a service tail lamp filament M, a service stop light filament 42 and a blackout tail lamp filament 43. Service tail filament M is connected by wire 44 with contact I06. Service stop filament 42 is connected by wire 45 with contact IIO. Blackout tail filament 43 is connected by wire 46 with contact I02. There is a prime mover vehicle rear lamp 50 having a blackout stop lamp filament 5I connected by wire 52 with contact I01 of switch 90 and a blackout tail lamp filament 53 which, like blackout tail filament 43 of lamp 40, is connected with wire 46 and contact I02.

The trailer vehicle carries a rear lamp having a service stop filament BI and a service tail filament 62 which are connected respectively by wires 63 and 64 with connectors 65 and 66 of a plug-and-socket unit 80. The trailer vehicle carries a rear lamp 10 having a blackout tail filament H and a blackout stop filament 12 connected respectively by wires 13 and 14 with connectors 15 and 16 respectively of plug-and-socket unit 80. Wire 8| joins connector 65 with terminal IIO. Wire 82 joins connector 66 with contact I06. Wire 83 joins connector 15 with contact I02. Wire 84 joins connector 16 with contact I01. A blackout tail filament H is provided also by lamp 60.

Main switch has electrically connected fixed contacts 9|, 92, 93, 94, and 96 which are arranged in the same inner circular row with contacts 91 and 98. Switch 90 has an outer row of fixed contacts comprising contacts IOI, I02, I03, I04, I05, I06, I01,,I08, I09 and H0. Contacts I03, I05 are electrically connected by a strap I03b. Contacts 91, I08, I09 and 90 are connected together by straps 91a, 98a and I08a. These contact connecting straps are not engaged by any of the movable contacts of the switch which include triangular shaped movable contacts III, I I2 and H3 shown in the off position in Fig. 1.

I20 designates a storage battery grounded at I2I and connected by a fuse or other thermal protecting device I22 with wire I23 which connects with contact 9|. The thermal overload protector I22 is connected with a stop light switch I30 connected by a wire I3I with contact I09 in Fig. 1.

The switch contacts II I, I I2 and I I3 are rotatable concurrently in either direction from the off or neutral position shown in Fig. 1. These contacts may be rotated clockwise (Figs. 3 and 4) from neutral first into the position shown in Fig. 3 which is the position required for blackout lighting. The various lamps that will burn when the contacts are in the position in Fig. 3 are indicated on line 3 of Fig. l by white circles. Lamps which do not burn are indicated by black squares. Similarly, when the movable contacts are moved still further clockwise (Figs. 3 and 4) into the positions shown in Fig. 4, which is the blackout drive position, the lamps which will burn are indicated by the white circles of line 4, Fig. '1. For daytime driving only the stop light is required to burn. The movable contacts are turned counterclockwise (Figs. and 6) from the off position to that shown in Fig. 5, thereby providing connections only to the prime mover vehicle service stop light and to the trailer service stop light as indicated by the white circles in line 5 of Fig. 7. Then when the stop light switch I30 is closed the stop lights on the prime mover vehicle and the trailer will burn. When it is desired to drive at night with the regular or service lights, the switch contacts are turned to the position shown in Fig. 6 so that in addition to the connections made by the switch when in Fig. 5, the service head and tail lamps and the trailer service tail lamp will burn as indicated by the White circles on line 6 of Fig. '1

I By comparing Fig. 1 with Fig. 2, which shows the electrical system for use with the four terminal connector plug, the difi'erences between the two systems can be readily understood. The trailer service tail lamp filament 62 is located in lamp 100. and-the trailer service stop lamp filament (BI is located in the lamp 60w. Blackout tail lamp filaments H are located in lamps 60a and a and the trailer blackout stop filament 12 is located in the lamp 60a. The trailer carries a switch I40 having stationary contacts I4I, I42, 143, I44, I45 and I46. Contact I42 is connected with plug and socket connector 61 of unit 8000. Contact MI is connected with filament 12. Contact l43 is connected with filament 6|. Contact I45 is connected with plug and socket connector 68 of unit 80a. Contact I44 is connected with filament 1I. Contact I46 isconnected with filament 62. Connector 68 is connected by wire I66 with main switch contact I04. Connector 61 is connected by wire I with contact I09. Therefore, contact I45 of switch I40, by virtue of its connections 68 and I66 with contact lll4 serve as a distributing point for either the trailer service tail filament or the trailer black-out tail fila tact I48 is in the full line position or in the dotdash line position I48a. Contacts I41 and I48 are concurrently rotated into the full line positions or to the respective dot dash line positions [41a and H811. by common operating handle not shown. The stop light switch I30 is connected by wire I50 with contact I09 and by wire I5I with contact I05. In Fig. 8, white circles show the lamps which are burning and black squares show the lamps which are out when the movable contacts. are in positions shown by Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6. As to the trailer tail and stop lights, service lights burn or black-out lights burn depending on the status of switch I40.

In either system, Fig. 1 or Fig. 2, the main switch 90 is the same. Contacts 93, 94, 95, I03, I04, I05 are not used in the system shown in Fig. 1. If the quantity of switches 90 for use in the system shown in Fig. 1 justifies omitting the contacts not used, this can be done to save material. However, contacts 92 and 96 will remain connected as will be explained later with reference to Fig. 11.

Plug-and-socket connector 9 of unit and of unit 80a is used to make a connection between trailer chassis ground and prime mover vehicle chassis ground. Connector h of either of these units may be used for another accessory on the trailer to be controlled from the prime mover vehicle. 7

Referring to Fig. 11 which shows the back of switch 90 the ends of the rivets which carry the various stationary contacts are marked with the same numbers as the contacts. The plate which connects terminals 91, 98, I08, I09 is designated I08a in Fig. 11. The terminal making connection with all of these contacts is designated I09a in Fig. 11. To the terminal plate I08a, either the wire I3I of Fig. 1 is connected, or wires I15 and I50 of Fig. 2. In Fig. 11, 92a indicates the plate which connects terminals 9I, 92, 93,1 94, 95 and 96 and the terminal for that plate is designated 9Ia. To thisterminal the wire I23 is connected according to Figs. 1 and 2. The strap connecting contacts I03 and I05 is designated I03b, as in Figs; 1 and 2. The other terminals used with other contacts are given the same numbers. as the contacts with the affix on. When switch 90 is used in the system of Fig. 1, plate 92a. remains but contacts 93; 94 and 95 can be omitted. Strap I031), terminal I03a and contacts I03, I04 and; 05 can be omitted.

The various contacts and. terminals shown in Fig. ll are mounted on a non=conducting plate I80 which is provided with an ear I8I extending into a notch I82 (Fig. 1' 1)' in flange of acup shaped switch housing I83 having tangs I84 by which the plate I80 is attached to the cupshaped switch housing I83. The housing or case I83 has a central hole through which a bearing I85 extends, said bearing has a shoulder at I86 engaging a plate I81 engaging the inner wall I88 of case I83 and these parts are held in en gagement by staking the bearing I85 at I89 as shown in Fig. 12. Thus the bearing I85 and the case I83 are united. Bearing I85 provides a shoulder I90 engaging a washer I9I engaging an instrument panel I92 having an opening through which the bearing I85 projects. Bearing I85 extends through aperture in face or index plate I 93 through a washer I96 and through a nut I91 which on being screwed down forces the washer I9I against the shoulder I90 of the bearing I85 and panel I92 and the plate I93 against panel I92.

The bearing I85 supports a shaft 200, the right end of which is conically tapered and is provided with flats 20l engaging corresponding flats provided by handle 202 which is secured to the shaft 200 by a screw 203. Thus relative movement between the handle 202 and 20I is prevented.

The shaft 200 is journaled in bearing I85 and is provided with a reduced portion 205 journaled in the plate I80. Shaft 200 is integral with an arm 206 having a lug 201 received by a slot 208 in a contact carrier 200 which carries the contacts III, H2 and H3. A spring 2I0 surrounds shaft 200 and is interposed between ar-m 206 and plate 208 for the purpose of urging plate 209 toward plate I80 and causing the contacts III, I I2 and H3 to engage therewith. Now the contacts III, H2 and II3 are identical in shape so that only one of them need be described in detail. For example, the contact I l I has three spherical bosses or buttons IIIa, IIIb, IIIc. For example, when contact I I I is in the position shown in Fig. 3 the buttons IlIa, IIIb, I I I will engage respectively contacts I04, 95 and I05. The pressure between the movable and stationary contact parts is substantially equal, because whatever force is imparted from plate 209 to contact III due to the action of spring 2I0 is delivered to the point of engagement indicated at 2I Ia where the plate 209 engages a spherical boss 2I I. The contact III is axially rotated by the plate 209 due to the engagement of the plate the shanks of rivets, the heads of which provide the spherical bosses or contacts IIIa, IIIb and IIIc. For example, boss IlIb, Figs. 14 and 9 is the head of rivet having a shank I'IIbs received by a hole IlIbh in plate 209. Each of the contacts III, H2 and H3 has a three point contact with the plate I80 or with the stationary contacts which are flush with the inside or right side surface of plate I80. Therefore the contact pressure between the spherical rivet heads such as Illa, I I I I), II Ic are the same. Furthermore, the plate 209. has a three point support provided by the several spherical bosses 2I I, 2I2 and 2I3 of the respective contacts III, H2 and 3 Therefore the pressure exerted by spring 2I0 upon plate 209 is equally distributed so that each contact gets one third and since each contact equally distributes its pressure to its individual three contact buttons then it may be said that each movable contact button receives substantially one ninth of the total pressure exerted by the spring 210. In this way, the movable contact buttons bear uniformly upon the stationary contacts.

The movable contacts are yieldingly maintained either in the off position or any one of the four on positions by means of a detent device which comprises a detent plate provided by plate I81 and having five equi-distant slots 2I5 each capable of receiving a ball 2I6 locatedin a pocket 2I1 of arm 206 and urged by a spring 2I8 toward the plate I81. Since plate I81 must be located in a definite relation to case I83 which is located in a definite relation to switch back I80, plate I81 is provided with a hole 220 which receives a projection 22I integral with wall I88 of case I83. Rotation of lever 202 in either direction is limited by stop means comprising a projection 222 of arm 206 received by an arcuate slot 223 in plate I81.

The handle 202 has a pointer 202a which is in the position shown when the switch handle 202 is in the off position. The pointer 202a points to certain indicia placed upon the front wall of the face plate I93. When the switch handle 202 is moved counterclockwise (Fig. 10) totacts will have been moved clockwise in Fig. 4 to the positions shown therein. When the handle 202 is moved clockwise (Fig. 10) to bring the pointer 202a adjacent to the legend STOP-LT the movable contacts will have been moved counterclockwise in Fig. 5 to the positions shown therein. When the handle 202 is moved clockwise (Fig. 10) to bring the pointer 202a adjacent the legend "HD-LT the movable contacts will have been moved counterclockwise in Fig. 6 into the positions shown therein. Referring to Fig. 10 movement of the handle from the o position to the STOP-LT position can take place without hindrance but the handle cannot be moved to position HD-LTS or positions BO-MK and BO-DR Without requiring an additional manipulation which is required because it is dangerous to permit any inadvertent or accidental movement of the handle 202 from off into the positions which cause head and tail lamps to burn. To prevent this accidental or inadvertent movement of handle 202 then the arm 205 is provided with a notch 230 shown in Fig. 15 which receives a plunger 23! having a cup shaped push button 232 adjacent a reduced portion 233 provided by plunger 23I which will clear the arm 206 when pushed in against the action of a spring 234 retained in a pocket 235 Within the hub 236 riveted to the back I88 of the housing I83 within which the plunger 23I slides. Normally the spring 234 holds the plunger in such position that movement of the lever 202 clockwise from off position further than STOP-LT position is prevented. The lever cannot be inadvertently moved counterclockwise from off position. Only while pressing in the button 232, may the lever 202 be moved into those positions which cause head lamps to burn. Once the lever 202 has been moved into BO-MK (blackout-marker lamps) position, lever 202 can be turned to BO-DR. (blackout-drive) position without manipulation of the button 232. When the lever 202 is returned from from the blackout drive or the blackout marker position to o position the button 232 will snap out again. Ouce the lever 202 has been moved into HD-LTS position, it can be moved back to STOP-LT or to off positions. When the lever 202 returns to said positions, the button 232 snaps out again.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A lighting system for an automotive vehicle comprising a current source, service head lamps, a black-out head lamp, black-out marker lamps, rear lamp providing service stop and black-out stop filaments and service tail and black-out tail filaments, a stop light switch closed in response to brake application, and a five-position main lighting switch having a rotary operating member movable from (1) "01? position in one direction of rotation into the positions in sequence, namely, (2) black-out marker, (3) black-out drive, and movable from 1) off position in the other direction of rotation into the positions in sequence, namely, (4) stop-light only, (5) service head lights, said switch comprising stationary contacts arranged in concentric circular rows and three triangular movable contacts operated by the rotary member and insulatingly supportwith the current source, and contacts in the outer row to which distribution is made by the two movable contacts, contacts in the outer row' making connections respectively with the blackout head lamp, black-out marker and black-out tail lamps, and service head and service tail lamps, (2) one movable contact and connected stationary contacts for making connection with the current source through the stop light switch,.

said stationary contacts including two contacts in the inner row and two contacts in the outer row, other stationary contacts in the outer row to which distribution is made, said contacts being connected respectively with black-out stop and service stop filaments.

2. A lighting system according to claim 1- further characterized by the addition of trailer service and black-out tail lamp filaments and trailer service stop and black-out stop lamp filaments, conducting means separately connecting said filaments with the following contacts of the main switch, namely, service head and tail lamp contact, black-out marker and black-out tail-lamp contacts are connected directly with the lamp side of the stop-light switch which is directly connected with the current source.

3-. A lighting system according to claim 1 further characterized by the addition of trailer service and black-out tail lamp filaments and trailer service stop and black-out stop lamp filaments, and a trailer filament selecting switch having a tail lamp main terminal and stop lamp main terminal and branch service tail and black-out tail terminals and branch service stop lamp and black-out stop lamp terminals, said branch terminals being respectively connected with said trailer. lamp filaments, and contacts movable into one position for connecting the main terminals of the trailer switch with the service tail and stop lamp filaments and movable into another position for connecting said main terminals of the trailer switch with the black-out tail and stop lamp filaments, and further characterized in that the first group of contacts of the main switch includes three stationary contacts in the outer row, one of said contacts being connected with the tail lamp main terminal of the trailer switch, and the other contacts being connected with the current source side of the stop-light switch which, on closing, makes a connection with the connected stationary contacts of the second group of. contacts, and further characterized in that the connected stationary contacts of the second group of contacts is connected with the stop lamp main terminal of the trailer switch. JOHN W. LAWSON. 

